ARTICULATION JOINT FOR VIDEO ENDOSCOPE

• US 20100076266A1
• Filed: 09/17/2009
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Macnamara, Francis T., Kirouac, Andrew Peter, Boulais, Dennis R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,425,408 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00059 provided with identification means for the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00071 Insertion part of the endoscope body A61B1/0055 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0008 characterised by distal tip features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00147 Holding or positioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0016 using motor drive units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00186 with imaging filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0055 Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/008 Articulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0653 with wavelength conversion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes

Abstract

A video endoscope system includes a reusable control cabinet and an endoscope that is connectable thereto. The endoscope may be used with a single patient and then disposed. The endoscope includes an illumination mechanism, an image sensor, and an elongate shaft having one or more lumens located therein. An articulation joint at the distal end of the endoscope allows the distal end to be oriented by the actuators in the control cabinet or actuators in a control handle of the endoscope. Fluidics, electrical, navigation, image, display and data entry controls are integrated into the system along with other accessories.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. An articulation joint for use in a medical device, comprising:

a series of adjacent ring links, each having an inner circumference and an outer circumference with tabs with a free end cut from a side wall of the ring link and extending radially inwards from the inner circumference of the ring links; and

a plurality of spring segments that join adjacent links together, wherein the tabs extend around a circumference of the spring segments and secure the spring segments to the inner circumference of the ring links.

15. The articulation joint of claim 14, wherein the spring segments define apertures adapted to receive control cables routed therethrough.

16. The articulation joint of claim 14, wherein each ring link includes a front edge and a rear edge, wherein at least one of the front or rear edges has a pair of sloped surfaces thereon.

17. The articulation joint of claim 16, wherein both the front edge and the rear edge include a pair of sloped surfaces thereon.

18. The articulation joint of claim 14, wherein the spring segments associated with the links have a uniform pitch.

19. The articulation joint of claim 14, wherein the spring segments are coil springs having alternating tightly wound and loosely wound coil sections.

20. The articulation joint of claim 14, wherein the medical device is an endoscope.

21. The articulation joint of claim 14, wherein each ring link of the number of ring links is generally circular in shape.

22. The articulation joint of claim 14, wherein the plurality of spring segments are secured to the ring links via an adhesive.

23. The articulation joint of claim 14, wherein the plurality of spring segments are secured to the ring links via welding.

24. The articulation joint of claim 14, further comprising a continuous spring having alternate tightly and loosely wound segments, wherein the continuous spring connects more than two ring links, and wherein the plurality of spring segments includes segments from the continuous spring.

25. A ring link for use in an articulation joint in a medical device, the ring link comprising:

an inner circumference; and

an outer circumference with tabs having a free end cut from a side wall of the ring link and extending radially inwards from the inner circumference of the ring link;

wherein the tabs are adapted to extend around a circumference of a spring segment and secure the spring segment to the inner circumference of the ring link, thereby joining the ring link to an adjacent ring link.

26. The ring link of claim 25, wherein the ring link includes a front edge and a rear edge, wherein at least one of the front or rear edges has a pair of sloped surfaces thereon.

27. The ring link of claim 26, wherein both the front edge and the rear edge include a pair of sloped surfaces thereon.

28. The ring link of claim 25, wherein the ring link is generally circular in shape.

29. An articulation joint for use in a medical device, comprising:

a plurality of ring links, each ring link having at least one tab bent radially inward from an outer surface of the ring link to form a point of attachment for a spring segment; and

a plurality of spring segments that join adjacent ring links of the plurality of ring links together, each spring segment attached to at least one tab of at least one ring link.

30. The articulation joint of claim 29, wherein the at least one tab is bent to substantially form a circle defining a lumen through which the spring segment passes.

31. The articulation joint of claim 29, wherein the at least one tab includes a first tab substantially forming a first side of a circle and a second tab substantially forming a second side of the circle, the circle defining a lumen through which the spring segment passes.

32. The articulation joint of claim 31, wherein the first tab and the second tab share a point of attachment at the outer surface of the ring link and are bent radially inward towards each other.

33. The articulation joint of claim 29, wherein the spring segments define apertures adapted to receive control cables routed therethrough.